Typically this genus consists of large purplish red species with
characteristically straight, transverse darker fasciae on the forewing and a
submarginal broken into two oblique dark bars. The hindwing has curved medial
and postmedial bands.

The male genitalia have a strikingly quadrifid uncus, a long, entire gnathus,
the lateral arms of which are linked to the tegumen by a membrane, and simple
valves that usually taper to a point.

Apart from the Himalayan type species and the two described below, the genus
sensu stricto includes also P. clemensi Schultze from Mindanao, Philippines, and
P. roepkei Nieuwenhuis from Banggai, Sulawesi. P. pallidipennis
Hampson, from
Burma and the N.E. Himalaya, would appear to be misplaced.